THIRTY percent of the adult population are smokers. This statistic came from the Department of Health (DOH) that spearheaded the campaign for the approval of the Universal Health Care. The funds for the implementation of the health care program of the Duterte administration will come from the sin tax on tobacco which is predicted to generate P15 billion by next year.
Aside from health problems involving the lungs as a result of smoking cigarettes, serious issues like heart disease and cancer are considered the top causes of death in this country. Diabetes also, has notably risen. Our lifestyle, lack of exercise and addiction to gadgets may be the cause of this disease prevalent in the country. According to the DOH, there are more young Filipinos getting sick of diabetes. Our children seldom play outdoors.
The revival of the “Feed the School Children” program is to accommodate children who go to school with an empty stomach. The program should also include the dissemination of information by way of educating the kids on what is healthy and what is not. Since education is deemed an equalizer to poverty, our marginalized members of society could be properly educated on health issues.
Former Malacañang spokesperson Harry Roque alleged that corruption in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is a great disservice to the Filipinos since legitimate patients needing dialysis were deprived of the treatment. Some 100 hospitals that were in cahoots with PhilHealth personnel are allegedly involved in what was considered a technical malversation of funds. There were already some arrests made, hopefully to put behind bars all those involved in the “mafia” of false claims.
The rainy season is here once again, and the common scenario will involve the children playing and swimming in flooded streets. Our local government units should initiate ordinances that would penalize parents who knowingly or unknowingly leave their children unattended under unhealthy situations. The DOH has not been remiss in reminding citizens of the hazards.
Dengue is the primordial concern during the rainy season. Health personnel and those involved in the selling of our favorite buko must be extra careful in the disposal of the empty coconut shells. I see them piling up on the side of the road, a reservoir of rain water where dengue-carrying mosquitoes could lay eggs.
“Health is wealth” may be an old adage, but it is still very relevant, especially now that the world is facing all forms of pollutants.